Ferg

The brush sounds like a good idea to try. Only other way to get excess shoe polish out of crevices is with a tooth pick or something similar. You mentioned buying some supplies from your friend the shoe repairman. Trust me, that is not the best source for you. There are many suppliers listed on this site, visit them and do some shopping. I believe you will be surprised at what price points you can obtain some items. If you have a Tandy store anywhere close, visit it. Most Tandy's have free classes and a lot of the managers are very benevolent, especially when it may mean a new customer, even if down the road. Don't hesitate to get all info you can. ferg

I have used Neat Lac for over 50 years. You can still buy it, has a different name because if I remember correctly, Tandy had the name Neat Lac Copyrighted. The product is called Clear-Lac and is , as far as I know, available from LCI (Leather Coatings Inc.) I bought a can from them recently. Tandy and numerous other companies elected to discontinue most everything we used in the past because it might harm an unsuspecting child with an idiot for a parent. The great fathers in Washington have made it difficult for manufacturers to make anything much that is worthwhile in the USA so China manufactures our goods. Sorry for that little Rant. People are the problem with products that get discontinued. They pour old oil and gasoline on the ground and bury burn anything that won't pour. BTW: Old Neat Lac is very difficult to use. LCI makes a thinner for it. Have not had the occasion to use it but have no reason to believe it doesn't work. You can actually thin either of these products to achieve less gloss if desired. ferg

For starters, I understand the meaning of not having the "where with all" to buy more "stuff". What you need to understand is this. "You cannot make a silk purse from a sows ear". My advice probably won't help you much right now but I believe it would have been better if you simply left the belt unfinished, I have done that and am wearing an every day belt that I never finished. The leather isn't as pretty but it develops a patina that only unfinished leather has. Your treatment of the edges is all wrong. I again understand the problem. The edges would be better if simply left alone. Shoe polish has it's place, a belt is not it. You will be wearing the polish on your clothes. Until you are able to buy some of the correct supplies just consider what you have available, what it or they can do. Consider all possibilities and move on from there. ferg

I am always interested in "How Things are Made". You done a great job, the mocs are beautiful. ferg

Access Bob Park (Hidepounder) for everything you need to know about burnishing edges of leather. URL for some of the best information you will ever receive http://leatherworker.net/bob-park/FinishingEdges-2-15-11.pdf ferg

When you finish your belt do the edges also. ferg

That sounds very unreasonable and highly unlikely. I would check them again. I have ordered from them in the summer and they were there. ferg

I don't think I have ever done anything for Motor Cycles. I like your work on this one. ferg

That is a lot of info to "soak up". Thanks. ferg

Among many other things I do, I grow our own flowers for our property in my small green house. Sow about 2500 seeds now, used to do 4000. My knees argue with me when it gets over 2500. Also have about 1500 Perennials. Thought some of you might like to see a few photos.

Sonnie, I am going to send you two attachments, one with this post another with next post. Actual size front and back of the Western Classic Purse. These will be large files. If you wish I can send them to your personal e-mail. The gusset is 3.5" at the bottom and narrows to about 2" or a little more at the top. I believe you could get enough info from this to make the purse. ferg Sonnie, Second image. westernclassicfront.pdf westernclassicback.pdf

Your work simply shows that you are a beginner. You do need to buy "Tech Tips" by Al Stohlman. It is one of the best books available for the money, to give you lots of information and how tos. Keep at it, many folks have begun leather work knowing nothing about it. ferg

I have a Consew 206RB5. Many things are nearly identical in sewing machine mechanisms. The bobbin should have the thread coming off the bottom right as you hold it in front of you. Place the bobbin in the Bobbin Case holding the bobbin the same way. Feed the thread through the slot and up into the little hole under the tension spring on the case. Pull the handle on the case and place in the machine until it seats solidly or you hear an audible click. Presser foot down, hold onto the threaded needle that is threaded from left to right, providing the long slot on the needle is to your left, lower needle into needle plate by turning the machine by hand. Keep turning until the needle comes back up through the presser feet, lift the foot, you will see a little loop of thread that isn't running through the needle. You can use a small screw driver or anything that will pull the loop towards you. As you probably know by now that is the thread coming from the bobbin. You should be ready to sew. If you have a messed up thread coming from the bobbin/bobbin case you may have too small needle, the bobbin case may not be all the way in, you threaded it wrong. Twisted thread in the bobbin case will make it very difficult to remove. Don't do anything crazy like picking at it with a screw driver. Swing the machine head up so you can see under the machine, notably at the bobbin case, clear any thread pieces you may see. Maybe something I have said will help, hope so. ferg

Scott, Reduce the size of your images. Very difficult to see the work you have done. ferg

With my experience, you must have a product that will mask the areas of the piece you do not want the "Antique" finish to penetrate. Dye stains will simply reduce the resistance you have applied and make the piece appear blotchy. My suggestion would be to use an Air Brush to apply your stain. With practice you can do amazing things, even some antiquing. ferg

Sounds reasonable to me. Think I would try it on an old boot first. Merry Christmas!!!! ferg

Peter Main ferg

My wife and I have done many shows with many kinds of merchandise we manufactured. First RULE for shows: Know who/what the attendees are. Teenies don't buy anything with much value when they are shopping a show, they may tell Dad about something they saw that cost more than $5.00. Unless your show is a juried show you have less chance of selling medium to high end stock. I would make a bet with you, there will be a Dude selling imported trash for less than you can buy the leather. I have never kept track of how many shows we have attended. We sold everything we hauled a few times. Most, we covered our travel expenses. We don't do them anymore, we hate the hours you sit waiting and standing talking to someone that has no intention of buying anything anyway, he is probably waiting on his wife. Reality sucks! ferg

Hi Mary, I have the exact same machine as you. This is what works for me: Remove bobbin, turn little adjustment screw counterclockwise until you feel it stop. Turn 1/4 turn clockwise. Replace bobbin, go to the upper tension adjustment. Back the knurled knob out until it is about even with the end of the post it screws onto. Now, turn it clockwise one turn. Sew into scrap piece of leather that will approximate what your final piece thickness is to be. Check the stitch. If the knots are pulled to the top, turn the adjusting screw on the bobbin another 1/4 turn clockwise leaving the top tension alone. If the knots are showing on the bottom of the piece increase the top tension about 1/2 turn. Continue this until your stitches are equal. After this procedure you will learn about where the settings need to be for each thickness/type of leather you are using. CAUTION! That little adjusting screw on the bobbin is very short, do not get carried away with backing it out. If you turn it a full turn you may not need to adjust anything but the top tension. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR MACHINE THREADED CORRECTLY. ferg

Ohio Travel Bag products: http://www.ohiotravelbag.com/Products.html ferg

Have not done a lot with the two hides I bought. Tooling was a piece of cake, as in tooled like butter. What I have is beautiful and absolutely void of any defects. I will definitely buy more. ferg

Sonja, I don't know if this will help you out but I think the pattern in lower left corner of this photo is the bag you are looking for. http://cgi.ebay.com/Tandy-Leather-Pattern-Pack-6033-00-Handbag-Craft-NWT-/160606217420 ferg

I am sure there are some materials that would take some kind of "stamping" less likely on the cutting/tooling. That said: You may be able to find someone with a laser that could "engrave" on faux leather that would satisfy the lady. ferg

I seldom do anything like this. A family member sent this to me this morning, thought some of you might like to read it. Hard to not pass this on... True Story..... Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were... A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit. The complaint: 'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyn’s early bird special? Any response would be appreciated. The response: Regarding ’A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m. , a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-1 6s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day. At 9 a. m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.. A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects. The letter writer asks, ’Whom do we thank for the morning air show'? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives. Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom. Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF

I think the fact you rushed it shows. Your photograph is skewed so the stitch line may be also. If not you need to make a mark for the stitch line and follow it. Your stamping and carving are well done but I would get rid of the Bucking Bronco unless you carved it, then don't use black as a finish. The Meander tool is a difficult tool to use, you done a good job but the design lacks something. I would need to see it to clarify that statement. ferg